Memoirs of Adventure Creative Writing Contest (NA) - Official Entry Thread

[AlisRinfell]

Fantasia

"So all I have to do is drink ... this?"

She eyed the small vial in her hand, lightly shaking it to watch the blue liquid splash inside. This unremarkable-looking concoction ('Fantasia', an interesting name) was the end result of her search. A dissatisfaction with her current form led her to a tiny shop nestled in the mountains of the Dravanian Hinterlands. Here, she was told, was someone who could help her address these matters.

That someone, in this case, was a very peculiar ... lagomorph? Namingway, he called himself. An odd lalafell-sized creature wrapped up in a red coat, pouches filled to the brim with potions and trinkets. His manner of speaking belied his untold age and otherworldly knowledge. Just where exactly did he come from anyways?

"That's right! It won't taste like much more than water, but rest assured, it'll work wonders. Just drink up and have yourself a little nap over there." He said, gesturing towards the soft bed in the room's corner.
"And then what? Will I ... notice anything happening to me?"
"Nah, it'll knock ya out cold! You'll be sleeping too hard to feel anything."
At least it wasn't going to hurt, not that any amount of pain would discourage her.

Hopping down from his seat, he continued. "It'll all be done by the time you wake up, so don't worry about it. When you're up, just ring this bell and I'll come back to see how everything went, alright?" At this, he gave a few tugs on the chain hanging near the door, creating soft ringing sounds in the workroom nearby.
She nodded, "Alright, I think I'm ready."
"Great! If there are no further questions, I'll leave you to your business. Enjoy!" He bowed, then exited the room, locking the door behind him for her privacy.

Alone in the room, she sat down on the bed and removed the cap from the bottle. "Well, here goes nothing. Over the lips, through the gums..."
In one swift motion, it was down. Watery, just like he said, yet pulsing with an electrical energy. Drowsiness from the drink overtook her almost instantly, and she fell quickly into a deep sleep. A dreamless rest, one marked by a sensation like being adrift in the Lifestream.

Her slumber ended a few hours later. She leapt out of bed as soon as her grogginess wore off, fueled by equal measures of excitement and skepticism, and sprinted over to the mirror to see the results. There, she caught her first glimpses of her new form, the true self she always dreamed about. No amount of stretches or movements betrayed the reflection. It ... it was real!

A silent jump for joy, then a quick effort to make herself presentable. She rang the bell and moments later Namingway entered the room once more, this time sporting a satisfied grin. "And who might this be?"

This was her new beginning, so why not a new name to mark the occasion? She smiled warmly. "The name's Alis. Pleased to make your acquaintance!"

Another satisfied customer.

[Bluebird Earring]

[ChromeDRG]

I take this moment for my pen to meet paper, to tell a story about a trio of friends.

We met during our time when we bore the name “Tempest Thieves”. Of course, you two knew each other long before our run of that. I didn’t have that many friends that would want to play with a Dragoon, not a very good one at least. But you saw the potential I had, and we worked through it. From the times of rescuing me from falling off of a train car, to having heart to heart moments about devastating personal situations in the world outside of Eorzea, and we mustn’t forget our late night drunken rants about the silliest of things.
I feel that, if it wasn’t for you two my adventures as a Warrior of Light would have ceased. But you’ve gave me the motivation and the confidence to continue my journeys.

Here's to you, Mr. and Mrs. Mudbutton.

- Chrome D.R. Geirskogul, Dragoon of Sargatanas.


(If Selected, I would like the Noble Barding Please.)

[Zeta-Uma]

“So, if I remember correctly, the final aethercurrent should be in a broken building near here,” Sarangerel said as he looked out on the frozen pre-dawn horizon of what was once thriving farmland, before the Calamity, “and then I can take you to the Sea of Clouds”.

Niamh was, as a duskwight, used to be the tallest person in the room. But the dark purple xaela towered over her. She leaned against an ice-encrusted hay bale. Standing next to her in his armor, Saran effectively acted as a wind block.

“Thank you for leading me here, Saran,” she said. Her breath came out in white puffs as she spoke.

“It’s not a problem- I love helping,” he sounded so sincere, but she couldn’t help but wonder.

He was the first person she’d ever met in Eorzea, back when she’d first wobbled off the airship, lost and disoriented among the twisting docks of Limsa Lominsa. Everything had been confusing. She’d even wondered if she was even cut out for this, this supposed hero’s work. And then he had been there to adjust his glasses and calmly explain how to get where she needed. And when she first had to dive into dungeons, when she faced off with primals, and when she had her final showdown against the Ultima Weapon, he’d been there to support her.

“Do you ever get tired of helping me?” she asked.

Saran adjusted the sword on his back. “What brings that question on?”

“Ever since we met, you’ve been helping. Not just me- everyone you come across. Does it ever get tiring?”

Saran closed his eyes.

“There’s a part of me that’s sick of it. Often times I’ll break my back for someone without a thanks, and then turn around and have to do it again. So many people need help all the time, and they rarely acknowledge those who give it.”

There were shadows under his eyes she’d never noticed. A lump formed in her throat.

“Plus, sometimes when I’m running around doing things for others, I can’t do the things I want to do, or the same people refuse to help me. Yeah, it gets exhausting. But-” Saran paused for a moment as he jumped up onto the icy straw- “there’s good in it too. Back when I was doing the things you were doing-”

“Finding aethercurrents and playing whack-a-mole with Primals,” Niamh offered.

“Yes, exactly. Back then, I was really rushing through it. It’s a blur I barely remember anymore. Helping you means I get to see it all with fresh eyes.”

Niamh nodded. “I think I understand”.

“There is one other benefit to helping people,” Saran added, “I get to see them happy”.

“I want to see you happy, too. So one day I’ll catch up to you. I promise,” she swore. One day I can support you, too. Saran grinned from above.

“Until then, hurry up; I want to get to the Sea of Clouds before sunrise. You can’t imagine how beautiful it is.”

Niamh got up and, together, the two friends ran off to meet the sun.

To my best friend who’s helped me through this game, thank you.

(Noble Barding)

[GamerGirlNES]

Costa del Sol has been one of my favorite places in FFXIV. But this memory has made it even more special to me.

This took place about a year ago. Myself, my in-game husband, and 2 of our friends were hanging out. I took us to Costa del Sol to make it feel like we were hanging out at the beach together in real life. We swam in the water, talking, laughing, poking fun at each other, and just having the best time away from fighting dragons and the Garlean Empire.

We sat on the dock after our swim and our Au Ra friend, Lilian Fourshadow, got an idea. We were in a party and there were 4 of us, so she suggested that we do a leveling roulette as all DPS. We all agreed and changed to a DPS. I was a Samurai, my in-game husband Willice was a Red Mage, Lilian was a Monk, and finally our other friend Ace was a Black Mage. We queued and got Ifrit. Wondering how the heck we were going to do this, Willice pulled the boss and I ran after him with Lilian and Ace not far behind. In the end, we managed to do it. We cheered and laughed, all of us completely shocked. We exited the area and wanted to do it again. This time, we got Haukke Manor. For doing a dungeon as all DPS, we were doing really well. We couldn’t beat the last boss of the dungeon, but it was still a fun challenge for us.

From that day forward, we’ve been close friends. I called this group "My Light Party" because of what we mained. Lilian is a Warrior, Willice is an Astrologian, Ace is a Dragoon, and I'm a Bard. We even went and made our own Free Company and called it our home, working together to get the house in The Lavender Beds and recruit more people. I wouldn’t trade this friendship for anything in the world and I can’t wait to see what the future has for us!

(if selected, Bluebird Earring)

[Bruva]

It was strange seeing it happen from the other side.
It has happened to me more times than I’d like to remember. At first, there is a sense of vague dizziness, quickly followed by a spiking headache. After that, the feeling leaves the realm of easily described sensation. There is a sense of the self falling inward, deeper into one’s own soul, and yet at the same time there is a stretching sensation. It is as though one feels as if they are falling backwards, yet stretching their arm out across impossible distances.
I saw those same sensations beginning to play over the face of the girl before me.
The vision of the Echo was a man clad in golden armor. Gaius van Baelsar. He stood, proud and prepared for battle. He had been a vicious opponent, preferring overwhelming might over diplomacy.
Gaius vanished, and there was an image of my greatest betrayal. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that night. Such a cavalcade of horrendous memories. Nanamo choking on poisoned wine, her eyes bulging as she struggled for breath all while I sat there, helpless to save her. Ilberd, a man I thought was my friend, laughing over me as he and his comrades prepared to slaughter my friends. I’ll never forget any of it.
I saw myself, kneeling in a place I found all too familiar. It was a humble gravestone with a shield propped up against it. It was where someone very dear to me now rests. I visit there quite often, talking to a friend long gone, telling him about a life that he isn’t here to see anymore.
I pull at an impossible weight. My friend who has been overwhelmed by dark forces kneels as Alphinaud and I try to free him. We pull with all our might, but the eyes that have bonded to his armor and deeper into his very flesh do not shift. It is only when I feel the hands of two friends long gone that a flash of strength comes to us both and we pull the eyes free.
A crowd kneels before a noble man. A ruler long thought lost has returned, chasing away those who seek to oppress. It is a pivotal moment for the world, the first gust in a storm of blood.
It’s him. My Friend. The one who was able to see through this facade and glimpse into the turmoil that seeths beneath me. He smiles. The expression looks alien on his face, like it’s the first time he’s made it. I stand before him, quietly acknowledging him. I kill him after this moment. At least, I hope he’s dead. I can’t imagine what might happen if he lives.
The images cease. The girl stumbles back, the intensity of the vision too much to bear for a moment. She gazes at me with bleary eyes, trying to make sense of what she has seen.
“You… y-you… All that power… all that pain… It’s too much… Too much for anyone!” Fordola said.
“The things they’ve done to you. The lies, the betrayal, the endless fighting… yet here you stand, unbroken. How…? Why…?”
I smile a wan smile, because it better suits a hero, and answer.
“For those I have lost. For those I can yet save.”
I’d like the Noble Barding for my Chocobo

[Ryzoe]

I don't know who you are, but allow me but a moment for a tale...

When she stepped into the light, she did not see herself worthy of Hydaelyns call. A cold and distant roe running from one world to another, cutting herself free from the bonds of past, she started anew. Searching, as we all do, for something to fill the void within. What answered was a life she never thought she could lead. A life of unending courage and bravery, of thoughtless sacrifice and heroism. No time to second guess herself, no time to question her destiny, she threw herself into the path of danger time and time again. Always to save the world; always to save even just one.

She can't remember when it happened, just that it happened. Was it heat of battle or the countless adventures? She'd found something to protect, someone to love. An ostentatious Miqo'te with purple hair and a thirst for adventure. Someone who understood her pain, her passion, who comforted open wounds when the world seemed to turn against her. Together they've grown, fought, stood against tyranny, clashed with dimension altering super weapons, and crossed worlds. They've fallen in love, vowed to fight and die for each other, to protect each other.

She-I have found what I was so desperately looking for in the last place I thought I'd find it.

Whomever you are, I hope this finds you well and know that you too may overcome great obstacles in your own adventure.

Sincerely, A Happy FemRoe

(Thank you for taking the time to read my note ^_^)

[AinaRosewood]

As I stared up at the glaring light watching with relief as it faded to the glimmer of a night sky I felt a profound sense of satisfaction. Then in a moment I can't forget a song filled my ears it was verdant and powerful it sang of gratitude and welcome. The enormity of it brought me to my knees tears streaming down my face. Dimly I heard the clamor of my concerned comrades behind me.

In broken words I reassured them I was alright, for in that moment I realized that it was Rak'tika herself who sang. Something I never thought I would hear having been born outside of a wood. For although my mother had performed the rites on me as an infant we were no where near a wood. Alphinaud ever the worrier then asked if I was now tied to the wood. That question was quite concerning since I still had so much to do for both the Source and the First.

I then silently asked the wood if she would abandon me should I choose to leave. She responded with reassurance making it clear that as reward for freeing her from the Tyranny of the Light I would be ever welcome beneath her boughs.

I relayed these words to Alphinaud and he and the others showed profound relief. After a few more moments gazing at the stars we then set out to return to those who waited for us. As the others went forward I once again communed with the wood making a single request.

Please welcome your wayward daughters back beneath your boughs as you've welcomed me. Tis all I ask as the one who freed you from the Light.

Rak'tika responded with an affirmation and a clear feeling that she was joyed to do so. Smiling I caught up with my friends as we left the falls behind us. My heart was lighter than it had been for a long time for although I've never minded the life of a wanderer it was nice to finally have a place to call home.

[DaoRin]

What to Do With a Drunken Adventurer

From worlds apart, four strangers met, one healer being particularly dizzy. She digs the tip of her shoe into the desert sand before they begin and she purses her lips, apologetically she admits, “I am a bit drunk, so if this goes poorly, I apologize.”

There’s a pause and then the heaviest set man roars, “Ha! So I am I, we’ll do fine. As they say, a drop of schnapps is good for the nerves!”

The other combat mage rubs his hands over his face, “Divines have mercy…”

After fighting their way through a particularly rough first boss they pause to catch a breath and the tank rubs his stomach, “I could go for a good burger right now…”

Dao thinks back to the burger wars of another time and a mischievous grin spreads across her face, “The West Coast burger is better than any other style of burger. You cant change my mind.”

With that, the flame was lit and outrage spread across the party. Heated banter simmered into a intellectual-esque conversation over the culinary arts.

As if connoisseurs themselves, a consensus was met on one ground; that the best breakfast burger was with a runny fried egg yolk.

The big tanks' lip drools as he explains, “You see, when you bite into the burger, the yolk pops and it’s almost like its own condiment.”

Dao nods, “Why would someone ruin a breakfast burger by cooking the yolk? Truly shameful.” The others shake their heads in shared disdain for such a crime against food. With thier breathes caught and flasks still in hand, the party makes a toast to tasteful dining and a chaotic final boss.

As all parties must end, the final boss is defeated and the party sits before the portal leading back to their respective worlds. They declare each others friendship and make a promise that one day they would meet again. Dao herself would never forget that unusually rowdy and equally as memorable group. Whenever Eorzea feels empty, she smiles and takes a drink, a silent toast to the best unknown adventurers and the ones she may meet in the future.


[ If selected, I would like the Mandragora Choker. Thank you! ]

[acta]

It is all too easy to doubt the righteousness of one’s actions when faced with an excess of suffering. Some moments leave no doubt at all – moments like witnessing the First’s final return to night come to mind. Yet still there are those times which grind one’s resolve down to dust, when the only way forward is to somehow find one’s way off the ground again, and when loneliness is the most precious and despicable friend one could ever know.

You are no stranger to pain. Life itself is a beatdown; surely, you ask, why go on? Everyone asks it eventually. It’s the next step you take that means the most. That’s bravery. Not what any of those once-upon-a-Temple-Knights thought courage was.

And you, oh, you. You are always taking that next step. To live is to fight, not the other way around, and aren’t you a glowing specimen of that very simple idea? I haven’t told you in far too long – since I played mentor, is that right? – but I am so proud of you. Blood and death and misery aside, you press forward. You know better than anybody that it never stops being difficult. It's entangled within all the rest.

Even now that the First has felt the cooling balm of darkness and your celebrations have finally come to a slow end, you sigh! Take a load off, why don’t you? Sidurgu and Rielle have discovered the beauty of relaxation, perhaps you should go visit with them to take note.

Yet, as ever, the world calls for you, and you answer. I can’t say the same for myself. Don’t forget what we’ve talked about. I’ve picked up too many of your messes to pick you up off the floor. Ah, but I’m well aware…you’re stubborn, but you're as stubborn as you are delightfully resilient. It’s why I’ve taken to you.

Well – that, among many other reasons.

Come now, chin up. Don’t tell me you’re tired. We’ve only just begun.

(Scarf of Wondrous Wit, please. <3)

[Chaude]

Bottle Up The Upside-Down Smile
(Item of choice if selected: Scarf of Wondrous Wit)



“Heh, I can’t believe I’m writing this. I can’t let the others see me like this. Not when they’re doing all of this for me. How fortunate I am to have friends holding the line in these dire times for me with a smile on their curled lips.”

“If you come across this bottled letter, I’d really appreciate it if you toss it somewhere and burn it. Writing this is embarrassing in trying to calm my nerves…”

“Ahem. Let’s see...over the years, I have been known by many titles. ‘Bringer of Light’ and ‘Corpse Dancer’ are two that come to mind for me. But...when Yozan and Koharu asked me why I wanted to be an adventurer, back then I wanted to fight in Ul’dah’s Coliseum.”

“That’s how I first started off as a Gladiator and later a Free Paladin, among other occupational jobs.”

“Fights like with Handeloup de Daimbaux and Black Lotus were intense and thrilling. Swing, strike, and block on the offensive. Parry awe-inspiring techniques and dodge hair-raising magic on the defensive. All the while a cheering crowd inspiring you to give it your all while keeping yourself from spilling blood with steel in your hand and magic at your beck and call.”

“I will never forget my rivals’ smiles full of determination and hope.”

“So, I told the two doman children, on one of my many escort quests I tend to do for others, that I sought power and hunted for new experiences and adventures. I’m not used to children, so I smiled more than I had talked, and was glad at the time that they didn’t press further with the deeper whys.”

“Yet, if I had to be honest with myself, I said all that to learn new techniques and magics as I continue to question my purpose in life.”

“Thinking back on what I could’ve said to the children, fame and glory are nice things, but I’d rather see people smiling.”

“And in a way, I did for a time. Guildmates and friends from many walks of life. Yet, some of my friends are in trouble and I’m not sure how to help them.”

“One by one, these friends of mine collapsed and won’t wake up. I have to pin my hopes in finding a relic that might lead me into saving them.”

“For all the power I’ve garnered and borrowed, seeing others worried or crying instead of smiling has always bothered me.”

“So I fought, and I fought, and I fought...”

“For all that I have accomplished, the war with the Garlean Empire still keeps me away from what I’d rather want to see and do.”

“If only wars were fought in an arena. Ahhh, now I’m wishing for the impossible.”

“And so I continue to fight, risking everything to keep those smiles on friend and rival alike.”

“I suppose I also did guarantee Yozan he’d be a fine adventurer someday as well…That’s just one more reason to the overflowing bucket full of hopes and dreams I need to deliver.”

“Hang in there, everyone. I’m coming.”